Match Report -
Conor Falls scores 94th minute winner as Celtic complete the double over Whitby
By Taran Dhamrait

Conor Falls scores 94th minute winner as Celtic complete the double over Whitby

Celtic left it late but Conor Falls 94th minute header gave Celtic a deserved win over Whitby after Jake Burton had opened the scoring in the first half.

Jacob Hazel had drawn the visitors level with 16 minutes to go but Falls’ winner in added time sent Bower Fold crazy as Celtic made it two wins in a row.

Celtic saw the first opportunity of the game with Charley Doyle sending a looping header into the hands of Shane Bland after just 3 minutes.

Celtic were without Shane Killock and Josh Edwards who missed out via injury but Derek Ubah entered the side for his full debut and Ethan Padden also made his first start since returning from a brief spell at Kidsgrove.

It was the latter who had Celtic’s next opportunity on 15 minutes. The energetic midfielder won the ball back mid way inside Whitby’s half. He drove towards goal but saw his shot fall wide of the goal.

Celtic continued to press for an opening and Sam McLintock went closest, cutting infield from the left, he sent a powerful shot towards goal which was initially spilled by Bland who recovered at the second attempt.

Celtic did however get their deserved opening goal and it was Tranmere loanee Burton who netted on 24 minutes to score his first goal since returning on loan.

Dougie Nyuapembe jinked his way into Whitby’s penalty area, taking on two players before setting Burton who turned and shot low past Bland and into the bottom left corner to give Celtic the lead.

Raul Correia saw an effort on the turn well held by Bland before Celtic nearly scored a second five minutes from the break.

Stephen Brogan’s corner was met by the head of Ubah, he headed the ball across goal towards Doyle who diverted the ball towards goal but his effort fell the wrong side of the post and the sides went into the break at 1-0.

Celtic started the second half as they ended the first and McLintock saw an effort from range saved by Bland before the game’s best move of the match took place on 57 minutes.

Raul Correia took on three Whitby players and managed to thread the ball through to Doyle who set McLintock running down the right wing, he dragged the ball back across goal into the path of Doyle who from just inside the area looked to cap off a stunning move but his strike cannoned off the cross bar with Whitby clearing the rebound.

Whitby then began to have a spell in the game but Celtic remained resilient at the back with Grant Shenton forced into a save that he made well, rushing out of his goal to save low with his feet after a set piece had ended up with a Whitby forward inside the penalty area.

The away side did manage to equalise through the league’s top scorer, Hazel on 73 minutes. A cross from the right was headed off the woodwork by Hazel, but he reacted quickly to prod the ball over the line and draw Whitby level.

Whitby began to throw players forward in desperate search of three points but it was Celtic that were still looking the more dangerous side.

Ubah saw a header hit the bar after meeting Brogan’s corner with McLintock firing the rebound over.

As we entered five additional minutes, Sam Wedgbury found space just outside of the penalty area and his dipping shot was tipped over the bar by Bland.

There was to be late action as Celtic restored their lead in the 94th minute. Brogan took a corner from the left and Falls had the run on the whole Whitby defence, he connected sweetly with the ball and his header flew past Bland and into the back of the net which saw scenes of celebration on and off the pitch.

Celtic kept the ball well for the remaining minutes to record an impressive league double over play-off chasing Whitby which saw a rise up to 13th in the Northern Premier League table.

Celtic are hosting again this weekend with Radcliffe the visitors to Bower Fold where the Celts are looking to make it three wins in a row.

Attendance: 247

Celtic: Shenton, Nyaupembe, Brogan, Wedgbury, Quansah, Ubah, Burton (80’ Falls), Doyle, Correia, Padden, McLintock.

Subs not used: Jones, O’Halloran, Harris, Johnson.

1Bland, Shane  
2Fergus, Soni  
3Hackett, Jake  > 73
4Hawkins, Lewis  
5Rowe, Danny  
6Sukar, Jaseem  
7MacDonald, Josh  
8Griffiths, Priestley   > 73
9Hazel, Jacob  
10Fewster, Bradley  
11Shepherd, Coleby  > 55
12Dijksteel, Malik  < 55
14Dyer, Nathan   
15Ible, Jameel  
16Lancaster, Will  < 73
17Gilles, Marcus   < 73